A. R. Natarajan - The Importance of Being Earnest

October 1, 2005

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

taken fromTHE SILENT MINDThe Ramana Way,by A. R. NATARAJAN,Published by Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning, Bangalore,8th edition, 2004(originally posted to NamoRamana group by saikali)

To fall in love with Truth, with the Heart, with one's own naturalstate, would be wonderful. That is what the scriptures have beenaffirming, repeating and saying over and over again. The naturalstate is one of "ananda", of bliss, a bliss which is not of time andtherefore without break. The example of the lives of the greatsaints and their teachings are only to remind us of the validity ofthis truth. After all, seeing is believing, so one's scepticism, orlack of faith, is corroded when one witnesses or recalls the storiesof their lives. They possessed none of the means of happiness,namely, wealth, power, position, and so on. Even so they were alwaysbrimming over with happiness. Ramana's worldly possessions were onlyhis cod-piece and "kamandalu". Yet He was and is a constant andunfailing powerhouse of peace, of abundance and fullness of life.His famous "Atma-Vidya" song wisely termed as "the song of bliss" isan invitation, a gentle reiteration of the sweetness and joy that wetoo may partake of. Yet one does not seem to care enough for whatthe scriptures, the sages, and mystics say. We certainly are notfilled with passion for the practices which lead to it. The pathtread by them seems wholly different. Often one feels that it mightjust be a dead-end leading nowhere. True, we begin with faith, butit is weak and uncertain, unbacked by experience, and more oftenthan not dryness sets in. The first flush of love peters out and itis not sustained. One comes to regard spiritual practice as best gotover with as quickly as possible, mechanically, as a disciplinerather than as a process to be lived with loving care. What thegreat ones say is outside the field of our experience and we carryon basically with our old ways giving life to habit and searching atfalse doors.If one is earnest what is to be done? After all when the goal isthere, and bliss which is naturally ours beckons, why should one notreap it? looking at the facts one finds that the real fault lies inour not working hard enough. Great expectations; but how can they befulfilled when the input is totally inadequate? This does not needmuch proving. One has to just see for oneself the distribution oftime during waking hours and the relish with which we do our "otherwork". We hardly have the patience to let the truth seep in.Chadwick relates the following conversation in the old Hall at SriRamanasramam which is typical of the general attitude. An Americanparty touring India in search of "Mahatmas" arrived at SriRamanasramam. One of its members, Mrs. Taylor, sitting in the Hallwith Bhagavan, suddenly said, "Bhagavan, I want Self-Realization". "Wait" replied Bhagavan, "it will come in duetime". "No," she answered, "that is no good. I want it here andnow". We also have the case of the devotee who told Bhagavan "I donot want anything-only give me Self-realization". Only in spirituallife somehow one deludes oneself into thinking that everythingshould appear at jet-speed. As in everything else in life, there isneed for time. The blooming of the Heart is bound to occur at theripe time.Ramana would constantly remind that Self-knowledge, and the blisswhich flows from it, is not a gift given on a platter by theSadguru. One has to strive for it with diligence and vigilance.For, grace is already there in full measure, what is lacking is theeffort. This weakness of mind, this lack of tenacity of purpose, isthe product of the tendency in each one of us to pass the buck. Itis also tempting to do so, particularly when we are conscious of theSadguru's strength. But it is precisely this that Ramana would neverencourage. For, only "if Kitty remembers Bhagavan, Bhagavan wouldremember her". This is not said in the spirit of a bargain. Indeed,how can there be any question of it? For Ramana's mind was dead,anchored in the source. It is only to underscore the truth, thatunwearied and ceaseless effort is a must, that Ramana made thisstatement. If you have done enough and come to a point ofhelplessness you have the right to press your demands on the Sadguruand invoke His blessings, so that the truth may be revealed, so thatour loveless heart may be inundated with the fullness of love. Thenit would not be refused. Rather, then we become aware that all alongthat help has been there, warding off the weaknesses anddistractions of the mind. Just as a mother feeds a child unknown toit, so does the Sadguru Ramana, kinder than any mother, nourishthose who with unflagging interest have pursued self-enquiry and thesearch for truth. Then, "what they say" is what we know; that thereare no "others" and that love embraces all life. What was heard andcontemplated upon becomes one's own experience.